U.S. patent application number 15/538300 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-07 for water jacket spacer, internal combustion engine, and automobile.
This patent application is currently assigned to NICHIAS CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is NICHIAS CORPORATION, TOTYA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Yukari Araki, Yoshifumi Fujita, Yoshihiro Kawasaki, Kentaro Mushiga.
Application Number | 20170350302 15/538300 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56150462 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170350302 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Araki; Yukari ; et
al. |
December 7, 2017 |
WATER JACKET SPACER, INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, AND AUTOMOBILE
Abstract
A water jacket spacer is provided that ensures that a cylinder
bore wall has a uniform temperature. When a contact member that
comes in contact with the all surface of a groove-like coolant
passage is provided to either or both of the inner wall side and
the outer wall side of the water jacket spacer along the
longitudinal direction of the water jacket spacer to divide the
groove-like coolant passage into an upper part and a lower part, it
is possible to separately control the flow rate of the coolant that
flows through the upper passage of the groove-like coolant passage,
and the flow rate of the coolant that flows through the lower
passage of the groove-like coolant passage, and separately adjust
the degree of cooling with respect to the upper part and the lower
part of the cylinder bore wall.
Inventors: |
Araki; Yukari; (Toyota-shi,
JP) ; Mushiga; Kentaro; (Toyota-shi, JP) ;
Kawasaki; Yoshihiro; (Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Fujita;
Yoshifumi; (Hamamatsu-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NICHIAS CORPORATION
TOTYA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo
Aichi |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
NICHIAS CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
56150462 |
Appl. No.: |
15/538300 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
December 21, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2015/085708 |
371 Date: |
June 21, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01P 3/02 20130101; F02F
1/14 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F01P 3/02 20060101
F01P003/02; F02F 1/14 20060101 F02F001/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 2014 |
JP |
2014-258313 |
Claims
1. A water jacket spacer that is inserted into a groove-like
coolant passage provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an
internal combustion engine, the water jacket spacer comprising a
main body that has a shape that conforms to the groove-like coolant
passage, and either or both of an inner wall-side contact member
and an outer wall-side contact member, the inner wall-side contact
member being disposed on an inner wall side of the main body along
a longitudinal direction of an inner wall of the main body, and
coming into contact with a cylinder bore-side wall surface of the
groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant
passage situated on an inner side with respect to the water jacket
spacer into an upper part and a lower part, and the outer wall-side
contact member being disposed on an outer wall side of the main
body along a longitudinal direction of an outer wall of the main
body, and coming into contact with an outer wall surface of the
groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant
passage situated on an outer side with respect to the water jacket
spacer into an upper part and a lower part.
2. A water jacket spacer that is inserted into a groove-like
coolant passage provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an
internal combustion engine, the water jacket spacer comprising a
main body that has a shape that conforms to the entirety of the
groove-like coolant passage, an inner wall-side contact member, and
an outer wall-side contact member, the inner wall-side contact
member being disposed on an inner wall side of the main body along
a longitudinal direction of an inner wall of the main body over the
entirety of the inner wall of the main body, and coming into
contact with a cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated
on the inner side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an
upper part and a lower part, and the outer wall-side contact member
being disposed on an outer wall side of the main body along a
longitudinal direction of an outer wall of the main body over the
entirety of the outer wall of the main body, and coining into
contact with an outer wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated on an
outer side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an upper
part and a lower part.
3. A water jacket spacer that is inserted into a groove-like
coolant passage provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an
internal combustion engine, the water jacket spacer comprising a
main body that has a shape that conforms to the entirety of the
groove-like coolant passage, and an inner wall-side contact member,
the inner wall-side contact member being disposed on an inner wall
side of the main body along a longitudinal direction of an inner
wall of the main body over the entirety of the inner wall of the
main body, and coming into contact with a cylinder bore-side wall
surface of the groove-like coolant passage to divide the
groove-like coolant passage situated on an inner side with respect
to the water jacket spacer into an upper part and a lower part.
4. A water jacket spacer that is inserted into a groove-like
coolant passage provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an
internal combustion engine, the water jacket spacer comprising a
main body that has a shape that conforms to the entirety of the
groove-like coolant passage, and an outer wall-side contact member,
the outer wall-side contact member being disposed on an outer wall
side of the main body along a longitudinal direction of an outer
wall of the main body over the entirety of the outer wall of the
main body, and coming into contact with an outer wall surface of
the groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant
passage situated on an outer side with respect to the water jacket
spacer into an upper part and a lower part.
5. A water jacket spacer that is inserted into a groove-like
coolant passage provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an
internal combustion engine, the water jacket spacer comprising a
main body that has a shape that conforms to the entirety of the
groove-like coolant passage, an inner wall-side contact member, and
an outer wall-side contact member, the inner wall-side contact
member being partially disposed on an inner wall side of the main
body along a longitudinal direction of an inner wall of the main
body, and coming into contact with a cylinder bare-side wall
surface of the groove-like coolant passage to divide the
groove-like coolant passage situated on the inner side with respect
to the water jacket spacer into an upper part and a lower part, and
the outer wall-side contact member being partially disposed on an
outer wall side of the main body along a longitudinal direction of
an outer wall of the main body, and coming into contact with an
outer wall surface of the groove-like coolant passage to divide the
groove-like coolant passage situated on an outer side with respect
to the water jacket spacer into an upper part and a lower part.
6. A water jacket spacer that is inserted into a groove-like
coolant passage provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an
internal combustion engine, the water jacket spacer comprising a
main body that has a shape that conforms to part of the groove-like
coolant passage, an inner wall-side contact member, and an outer
wall-side contact member, the inner wall-side contact member being
disposed on an inner wall side of the main body along a
longitudinal direction of an inner wall of the main body over, the
entirety of the inner wall of the main body, and coming into
contact with a cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage to divide the move-like coolant passage situated on
the inner side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an
upper part and a lower part, and the outer wall-side contact member
being disposed on an outer wall side of the main body along a
longitudinal direction of an outer wall of the main body over the
entirety of the outer wall of the main body, and coming into
contact with an outer wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated on an
outer side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an upper
part and a lower part.
7. A water jacket spacer that is inserted into a groove-like
coolant passage provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an
internal combustion engine, the water jacket spacer comprising a
main body that has a shape that conforms to part of the groove-like
coolant passage, and an inner wall-side contact member, the inner
wall-side contact member being disposed on an inner wall side of
the main body along a longitudinal direction of an inner wall of
the main body over the entirety of the inner wall of the main body,
and coining into contact with a cylinder bore-side wall surface of
the groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant
passage situated on an inner side with respect to the water jacket
spacer into an upper part and a lower part.
8. A water jacket spacer that is inserted into a groove-like
coolant passage provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an
internal combustion engine, the water jacket spacer comprising a
main body that has a shape that conforms to part of the groove-like
coolant passage, and an outer wall-side contact member, the outer
wall-side contact member being disposed on an outer wall side of
the main body along a longitudinal direction of an outer wall of
the main body over the entirety of the outer wall of the main body,
and coining into contact with an outer wall surface of the
groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant
passage situated on an outer side with respect to the water jacket
spacer into an upper part and a lower part.
9. A water jacket spacer that is inserted into a groove-like
coolant passage provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an
internal combustion engine, the water jacket spacer comprising a
main body that has a shape that conforms to part of the groove-like
coolant passage, an inner wall-side contact member, and an outer
wall-side contact member, the inner wall-side contact member being
partially disposed on an inner wall side of the main body along a
longitudinal direction of an inner wall of the main body, and
coming into contact with a cylinder bore-side wall surface of the
groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant
passage situated on the inner side with respect to the water jacket
spacer into an upper part and a lower part, and the outer wall-side
contact member being partially disposed on an outer wall side of
the main body along a longitudinal direction of an outer wall of
the main body, and coming into contact with an outer wall surface
of the groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like
coolant passage situated on an outer side with respect to the water
jacket spacer into an upper part and a lower part.
10. The water jacket spacer according to claim 1, wherein the inner
wall-side contact member or the outer wall-side contact member has
a thickness of 0.1 to 5.0 mm.
11. The water jacket spacer according to claim 1, wherein the inner
wall-side contact member or the outer wall-side contact member is
formed of a rubber material having a rubber hardness of 5 to
50.
12. The water jacket spacer according to claim 1, wherein the inner
wall-side contact member or the outer wall-side contact member is
formed of a silicone rubber, a fluororubber, an
ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), or a nitrile-butadiene
rubber (NBR).
13. The water jacket spacer according to claim 12, wherein the
inner wall-side contact member or the outer wall-side contact
member is formed of a heat-expandable rubber that comprises a
silicone rubber, a fluororubber, an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber
(EPDM), or a nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR).
14. An internal combustion engine comprising the water jacket
spacer according to claim 1, the water jacket spacer being disposed
in a groove-like coolant passage provided to a cylinder block.
15. An automobile comprising the internal combustion engine
according to claim 14.
16. An internal combustion engine comprising the water jacket
spacer according to claim 2, the water jacket spacer being disposed
in a groove-like coolant passage provided to a cylinder block.
17. An internal combustion engine comprising the water jacket
spacer according to claim 3, the water jacket spacer being disposed
in a groove-like coolant passage provided to a cylinder block.
18. An internal combustion engine comprising the water jacket
spacer according to claim 4, the water jacket spacer being disposed
in a groove-like coolant passage provided to a cylinder block.
19. An internal combustion engine comprising the water jacket
spacer according to claim 5. the water jacket spacer being disposed
in a groove-like coolant passage provided to a cylinder block.
20. An internal combustion engine comprising the water jacket
spacer according to claim 6, the water jacket spacer being disposed
in a groove-like coolant passage provided to a cylinder block.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a water jacket spacer that
is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage provided to a
cylinder block that is provided to an internal to combustion
engine, and used to control the flow of a coolant that flows
through the groove-like coolant passage, an internal combustion
engine that includes the water jacket spacer, and an automobile
that includes the internal combustion engine.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An internal combustion engine is designed so that fuel
explodes within the cylinder bore when the piston is positioned at
top dead center, and the piston is moved downward due to the
explosion. Therefore, the upper part of the cylinder bore wall
increases in temperature as compared with the middle-lower part of
the cylinder bore wall. Accordingly, a difference in the amount of
thermal deformation occurs between the upper part and the
middle-lower part of the cylinder bore wall (i.e., the upper part
of the cylinder bore wall expands to a large extent as compared
with the middle-lower part of the cylinder bore wall).
[0003] As a result, the frictional resistance of the piston against
the cylinder bore wall increases, and the fuel consumption
increases. Therefore, a reduction in difference in the amount of
thermal deformation between the upper part and the middle-lower
part of the cylinder bore wall has been desired.
[0004] Attempts have been made to control the cooling efficiency in
the upper part and the lower part of the cylinder bore wall due to
the coolant by disposing a water jacket spacer in a groove-like
coolant passage to adjust the flow of the coolant in the
groove-like coolant passage such that the cylinder bore wall has a
uniform temperature. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an
internal combustion engine heating medium passage partition member
that is disposed in a groove-like heating medium passage formed in
a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine to divide the
groove-like heating medium passage into a plurality of passages,
the heating medium passage partition member including a passage
division member that is formed at a height above the bottom of the
groove-like heating medium passage, and serves as a wall that
divides the groove-like heating medium passage into a bore-side
passage and a non-bore-side passage, and a flexible lip member that
is formed from the passage division member in the opening direction
of the move-like heating medium passage, the edge area of the
flexible lip member being formed of a flexible material to extend
beyond the inner surface of one of the groove-like heating medium
passages, and coming in contact with the inner surface at a middle
position of the groove-like heating medium passage in the depth
direction dire to the flexure restoring force after insertion into
the move-like heating medium passage to separate the bore-side
passage and the non-bore-side passage.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0005] Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2008-31939 (claims)
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0006] According to the internal combustion engine heating medium
passage partition member disclosed in Patent Literature 1, since
the temperature of the cylinder bore wall can be made uniform to a
certain extent, the difference in the amount of thermal deformation
between the upper area and the lower area of the cylinder bore wall
can be reduced. However, a further reduction in the difference in
the amount of thermal deformation between the upper area and the
lower area of the cylinder bore wall has been desired.
[0007] An object of the invention is to provide a water jacket
spacer that ensures that the cylinder bore wall has a uniform
temperature, an internal combustion engine that includes the water
jacket spacer, and an automobile that includes the internal
combustion engine.
Solution to Problem
[0008] The inventors conducted extensive studies in order to solve
the above problem, and found that, when a contact member that
conies in contact with the wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage is provided to either or both of the inner wall side and
the outer wall side of the water jacket spacer along the
longitudinal direction of the water jacket spacer to divide the
groove-like coolant passage into an upper part and a lower part, it
is possible to separately control the flow rate of the coolant that
flows through the upper passage of the groove-like coolant passage,
and the flow rate of the coolant that flows through the lower
passage of the groove-like coolant passage, and separately adjust
the degree of cooling with respect to the upper part and the lower
part of the cylinder bore wall. This finding has led to the
completion of the invention.
(1) According to one aspect of the invention, a water jacket spacer
is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage provided to a
cylinder block that is provided to an internal combustion engine,
and includes a main body that has a shape that conforms to the
groove-like coolant passage, and either or both of an inner
wall-side contact member and an outer wall-side contact member, the
inner wall-side contact member being disposed on the inner wall
side of the main body along the longitudinal direction of the inner
wall of the main body, and coming into contact with the cylinder
bore-side wall surface of the groove-like coolant passage to divide
the groove-like coolant passage situated on the inner side with
respect to the water jacket spacer into an upper part and a to
lower part, and the outer wall-side contact member being disposed
on the outer wall side of the main body along the longitudinal
direction of the outer wall of the main body, and coming into
contact with the outer wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated on the
outer side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an upper
part and a lower part. (2) According, to another aspect of the
invention, n internal combustion engine includes the water jacket
spacer according to (1) that is disposed in a groove-like coolant
passage provided to a cylinder block. (3) According to a further
aspect of the invention, an automobile includes the internal
combustion engine according to (2).
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0009] The aspects of the invention thus provide a water jacket
spacer that ensures that the cylinder bore wall has a uniform
temperature, an internal combustion engine that includes the water
jacket spacer, and an automobile that includes the internal
combustion engine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a
cylinder block in which a water jacket spacer according to one
embodiment of the invention is disposed.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an end view taken along the line x-x illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the cylinder block
illustrated in FIG 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an
example of a water jacket spacer according to one embodiment of the
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating the water jacket spacer
illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0015] FIG. 6 is an end view taken along the line y-y illustrated
in FIG. 5.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the
water jacket spacer illustrated in FIG. 4 is inserted into the
cylinder block illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the
water jacket spacer illustrated in FIG. 4 is disposed in a
groove-like coolant passage provided to the cylinder block
illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a groove-like coolant passage
from a cylinder bore-side wall surface in a state in which a water
jacket spacer is disposed in the groove-like coolant passage.
[0019] FIG. 10 is an end view illustrating a state in Which a water
jacket spacer is disposed in a groove-like coolant passage.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating an example of a main
body.
[0021] FIGS. 12A and 12B are a schematic view illustrating an
example of an outer wall-side contact member.
[0022] FIGS. 13A and 13B are a schematic view illustrating an
example of an inner wall-side contact member.
[0023] FIGS. 14A and 14B are a schematic view illustrating an
example of an inner wall-side contact member and an outer wall-side
contact member.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0024] A water jacket spacer according to one embodiment of the
invention, and an internal combustion engine that includes the
water jacket spacer according to one embodiment of the invention,
are described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIGS. 1 to 3
illustrate an example of a cylinder block in which the water jacket
spacer according to one embodiment of the invention is disposed.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating the cylinder block in
which the water jacket spacer according to one embodiment of the
invention is disposed FIG. 2 is an end view taken along the line
x-x illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view
illustrating the cylinder block illustrated in FIG. 1. FIGS. 4 to 6
illustrate an example of the water jacket spacer according to one
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view
illustrating an example of the water jacket spacer according to one
embodiment of the invention, FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating the
water jacket spacer illustrated in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is an end
view taken along the line y-y illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a
schematic view illustrating a state in which the water jacket
spacer illustrated in FIG. 4 is inserted into the cylinder block
illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a
state in which the water jacket spacer illustrated in FIG. 4 is
disposed in a groove-like coolant passage provided to the cylinder
block illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the
groove-like coolant passage from a cylinder bore-side wall surface
in a state in which the water jacket spacer is disposed in the
groove-like coolant passage, and FIG. 10 is an end view
illustrating a state in which the water jacket spacer is disposed
in the groove-like coolant passage.
[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, an open-deck cylinder block
11 for an automotive internal combustion engine (in which the water
jacket spacer is disposed) includes a plurality of bores 12 and a
groove-like coolant passage 14, a piston moving upward and downward
in each bore 12, and a coolant flowing through the wove-like
coolant passage 14. The boundary between the bores 12 and the
groove-like coolant passage 14 is defined by a cylinder bore wall
13. The cylinder block 11 also includes coolant inlets 15a and 15b
for supplying the coolant to the groove-like coolant passage 14,
and coolant outlets 16a and 16b for discharging the coolant from
the groove-like coolant passage 11. The coolant inlet 15a is an
inlet for supplying the coolant to the upper passage of the
groove-like coolant passage 14, the coolant inlet 15b is an inlet
for supplying the coolant to the lower passage of the groove-like
coolant passage 14, the coolant outlet 16a is an outlet for
discharging the coolant from the upper passage of the groove-like
coolant passage 14, and the coolant outlet lob is an outlet for
discharging the coolant from the lower passage of the groove-like
coolant passage 14.
[0026] The cylinder block 11 includes two or more bores 12 that are
formed (arranged) in series. Specifically, the bores 12 include end
bores 12a1 and 12a2 that are formed to be adjacent to one bore, and
intermediate bores 12b1 and 12b2 that are formed between two bores.
Note that only the end bores are provided when the number of bores
formed in the cylinder block is 2. The end bores 12a1 and 12a2
among the bores 12 that are arranged in series are bores situated
on either end, and the intermediate bores 12b1 and 12b2 among the
bores 12 that are arranged in series are bores situated between the
end bore 12a1 situated on one end and the end bore 12a2 situated on
the other end.
[0027] The wall surface of the groove-like coolant passage 14 that
is situated on the side of the cylinder bores is referred to as
"cylinder bore-side wall surface 17", and the wall surface of the
groove-like coolant passage 14 that is situated opposite to the
cylinder bore-side wall surface 17 is referred to as "outer wall
surface 18".
[0028] A water jacket spacer 1 illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 includes
a main body 2, an inner wall-side contact member 6, and an outer
wall-side contact member 4.
[0029] The main body 2 is a member that is disposed in the
middle-lower part of the groove-like coolant passage 14 so that the
center and its vicinity of the middle-lower part of the groove-like
coolant passage 14 in the width direction is filled with the main
body 2. The main body 2 has a shape that conforms to the shape of
the groove-like coolant passage 14 when viewed from above. In other
words, the main body 2 has a to shape that surrounds the cylinder
bore-side wall surface 17 of the groove-like coolant passage 14
when viewed from above.
[0030] The inner wall-side contact member 6 is disposed along the
longitudinal direction transverse direction) of the inner wall of
the main body 2 so as to surround the cylinder bore-side wall
surface 17 of the groove-like coolant passage 14. The inner
wall-side contact member 6 is disposed on the inner wall side of
the main body 2 in a state in which the inner wall-side contact
member 6 is fitted into an inner wall-side contact member-receiving
section 5 formed on the inner wall side of the main body 2.
[0031] The outer wall-side contact member 4 is disposed along the
longitudinal direction (transverse direction) of the outer wall of
the main body 2 so as to surround the main body 2. The outer
wall-side contact member 4 is disposed on the outer wall side of
the main body 2 in a state in which the outer wall-side contact
member 4 is fitted into an outer wall-side contact member-receiving
section 35 formed on the outer wall side of the main body 2.
[0032] An inflow hole 7 that allows the coolant to enter the
coolant passage formed between the main body 2 and the cylinder
bore-side wall surface of the groove-like coolant passage is formed
at a position lower than the position of the inner wall-side
contact member 4 and the outer wall-side contact member 6 is the
height direction, and an outflow hole 8 that allows the coolant to
be discharged from the coolant passage formed between the main body
2 and the cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage into the coolant passage formed between the main
body 2 and the outer wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage is formed at a position lower than the position of the
inner wall-side contact member 4 and the outer wall-side contact
member 6 in the height direction.
[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the water jacket spacer 1 is
inserted into the groove-like coolant passage 14 provided to the
cylinder block 11, and disposed in the groove-like coolant passage
14 (see FIGS. 8 to 10). Note that FIG. 9 illustrates only the main
body, the inner wall-side contact member, and the outer wall
surface of the groove-like coolant passage.
[0034] When the water jacket spacer 1 is disposed in the
groove-like coolant passage 14, the inner wall-side contact member
6 comes in contact with the cylinder bore-side wall surface 17 of
the groove-like coolant passage 14, and the outer wall-side contact
member 4 comes in contact with the outer wall surface 18 of the
groove-like coolant passage 14.
[0035] When the inner wall-side contact member 6 has come in
contact with the cylinder bore-side wall surface 17 of the
groove-like coolant passage 14, and the outer wall-side contact
member 4 has come in contact with the outer wall surface 18 of the
groove-like coolant passage 14, the groove-life coolant passage 14
is divided into an upper passage 23 and a lower passage 24.
Therefore, when a pump that supplies a coolant 21 to the upper
passage 23 of the groove-like coolant passage, and a pump that
supplies a coolant 22 to the lower passage 24 of the groove-like
coolant passage, are separately provided, it is possible to cause
the flow rate of the coolant to differ between the upper passage 23
and the lower passage 24 of the groove-like coolant passage, and
separately adjust the flow rate of the coolant that flows through
the upper passage 23 of the groove-like coolant passage, and the
flow rate of the coolant that flows through the lower passage 24 of
the groove-like coolant passage.
[0036] The water jacket spacer according to one aspect of the
invention is inserted into to a groove-like coolant passage
provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an internal
combustion engine, and includes a main body that has a shape that
conforms to the groove-like coolant passage, and either or both of
an inner wall-side contact member and an outer wall-side contact
member, the inner wall-side contact member being disposed on the
inner wall side of the main body along the longitudinal direction
of the inner wall of the main body, and coming into contact with
the cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated on the
inner side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an upper
part and a lower part, and the outer wall-side contact member being
disposed on the outer wall side of the main body along the
longitudinal direction of the outer wall of the main body, and
coming into contact with the outer wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated
on the outer side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an
upper part and a lower part.
[0037] The water jacket spacer according to one aspect of the
invention may be implemented as described below.
[0038] A water jacket spacer according to a first embodiment of the
invention is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage provided
to a cylinder block that is provided to an internal combustion
engine, and includes a main body that has a shape that conforms to
the entirety of the groove-like coolant passage, an inner wall-side
contact member, and an outer wall-side contact member, the inner
wall-side contact member being disposed on the inner wall side of
the main body along the longitudinal direction of the inner wall of
the main body over the entirety of the inner wall of the main body,
and coming into contact with the cylinder bore-side wall surface of
the groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant
passage situated on the inner side with respect to the water jacket
spacer into an upper part and a lower part, and the outer wall-side
contact member being disposed on the outer wall side of the main
body along the longitudinal direction of the outer wall of the main
body over the entirety of the outer wall of the main body, and
coming into contact with the outer wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated
on the outer side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an
upper part and a lower part.
[0039] A water jacket spacer according to a second embodiment of
the invention is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage
provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an internal
combustion engine, and includes a main body that has a shape that
conforms to the entirety of the groove-like coolant passage, and an
inner wall-side contact member, the inner wall-side contact member
being disposed on the inner wall side of the main body along the
longitudinal direction of the inner wall of the main body over the
entirely of the inner wall of the main body, and coming into
contact with the cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated
on the inner side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an
upper part and a lower part.
[0040] A water jacket spacer according to a third embodiment of the
invention is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage provided
to a cylinder block that is provided to an internal combustion
engine, and includes a main body that has a shape that conforms to
the entirety of the groove-like coolant passage, and an outer
wall-side contact member the outer wall-side contact member being
disposed on the outer wall side of the main body along the
longitudinal direction of the outer wall of the main body over the
entirely of the outer wall of the main body, and coming into
contact with the outer wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated on the
outer side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an upper
part and a lower part.
[0041] A water jacket spacer according to a fourth embodiment of
the invention is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage
provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an internal
combustion engine, and includes a main body that has a shape that
conforms to the entirety of the groove-like coolant passage, an
inner wall-side contact member, and an outer wall-side contact
member, the inner wall-side contact member being partially disposed
on the inner wall side of the main body along the longitudinal.
direction of the inner wall of the main body, and coming into
contact with the cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated
on the inner side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an
upper part and a lower part, and the outer wall-side contact member
being partially disposed on the outer wall side of the main body
along the longitudinal direction of the outer wall of the main
body, and coining into contact with the outer wall surface of the
groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant
passage situated on the outer side with respect to the water jacket
spacer into an upper part and a lower part.
[0042] A water jacket spacer according to a fifth embodiment of the
invention is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage provided
to a cylinder block that is provided to an internal combustion
engine, and includes a main body that has a shape that conforms to
part of the groove-like coolant passage, an inner wall-side contact
member, and an outer wall-side contact member, the inner wall-side
contact member being disposed on the inner wall side of the math
body along the longitudinal direction of the inner wall of the main
body over the entirety of the inner wall of the main body, and
coming into contact with the cylinder bore-side wall surface of the
groove-like coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant
passage situated on the inner side with respect to the water jacket
spacer into an upper part and a lower part, and the outer wall-side
contact member being disposed on the outer wall side of the main
body along the longitudinal direction of the outer wall of the main
body over the entirety of the outer wall of the main body, and
coming into contact with the outer wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated
on the outer side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an
upper part and a lower part.
[0043] A water jacket spacer according to a sixth embodiment of the
invention is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage provided
to a cylinder block that is provided to an internal combustion
engine, and includes a main body that has a shape that conforms to
part of the groove-like coolant passage, and an inner wall-side
contact member, the inner wall-side contact member being disposed
on the inner wall side of the main body along the longitudinal
direction of the inner wall of the main body over the entirety of
the inner wall of the main body, and coming into contact with the
cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like coolant passage
to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated on the inner
side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an upper part and
a lower part.
[0044] A water jacket spacer according to a seventh embodiment of
the invention is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage
provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an internal
combustion engine, and includes a main body that has a shape that
conforms to part of the groove-like coolant passage, and an outer
wall-side contact member, the outer wall-side contact member being
disposed on the outer wall side of the main body along the
longitudinal direction of the outer wall of the main body over the
entirety of the outer wall of the main body, and coming into
contact with the outer wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated on the
outer side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an upper
part and a lower part.
[0045] A water jacket spacer according to an eighth embodiment of
the invention is inserted into a groove-like coolant passage
provided to a cylinder block that is provided to an internal
combustion engine, and includes a main body that has a shape that
conforms to part of the groove-like coolant passage, an inner
wall-side contact member, and an outer wall-side contact member,
the inner wall-side contact member being partially disposed on the
inner wall side of the main body along the longitudinal direction
of the inner wall of the main body, and coming into contact with
the cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated on the
inner side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an upper
part and a lower part, and the outer wall-side contact member being
partially disposed on the outer wall side of the main body along
the longitudinal direction of the outer wall of the main body, and
coming into contact with the outer wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage to divide the groove-like coolant passage situated
on the outer side with respect to the water jacket spacer into an
upper part and a lower part.
[0046] The main body is a member that is disposed in the
middle-lower part or the lower part of the groove-like coolant
passage so that the center and its vicinity of the middle-lower
part or the lower part of the groove-like coolant passage in the
width direction is filled with the main body. The main body also
serves as a member that supports the inner wall-side contact member
or the outer wall-side contact member within the groove-like
coolant passage so that the inner wall-side contact member or the
outer wall-side contact member in the groove-like, coolant passage
is fixed at a specific position. Therefore, the main body has a
shape that conforms to the shape of the groove-like coolant passage
when viewed from above. More specifically, the main body has a
shape that conforms to the shape of part or the entirely of the
groove-like coolant passage.
[0047] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the main body has a
shape that surrounds the entirety of the cylinder bore-side wall
surface of the groove-like coolant passage. Note that the shape of
the main body is not particularly limited as long as the main body
can support the inner wall-side contact member or the outer
wall-side contact member so that the inner wall-side contact member
or the outer wall-side contact member in the groove-like coolant
passage is fixed at a specific position, and it is possible to
separately adjust the flow rate of the coolant that flows through
the upper passage of the groove-like coolant passage, and the flow
rate of the coolant that flows through the lower passage of the
groove-like coolant passage. For example, the main body may have a
shape that is partially removed in the longitudinal direction (i.e.
may have a shape that conforms to part of then groove-like coolant
passage) (see FIG. 11) as long as the main body can support the
inner wall-side contact member and the outer wall-side contact
member so that it is possible to substantially separately adjust
the flow rate of the coolant that flows through the upper passage
of the groove-like coolant passage, and the flow rate of the
coolant that flows through the lower passage of the groove-like
coolant passage.
[0048] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, an inflow hole that
allows the coolant to enter the coolant passage formed between the
main body and the cylinder bore-side wall surface of the
groove-like coolant passage, and an outflow hole that allows the
coolant to be discharged from the coolant passage formed between
the main body and the cylinder bore-side wall surface of the
wove-like coolant passage into the coolant passage formed between
the main body and the outer wall surface of the groove-like coolant
passage, are formed. Note that an arbitrary configuration may be
employed as long as the coolant can enter the coolant passage
formed between the main body and the cylinder bore-side wall
surface of the groove-like coolant passage, and can be discharged
from the coolant passage formed between the main body and the
cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like coolant passage.
For example, part of the water jacket spacer that is situated at a
position lower than the position of the inner wall-side contact
member or the outer wall-side contact member in the height
direction, may have been removed, or only a small part may be
provided at a position lower than the position of the inner
wall-side contact member or the outer wall-side contact member in
the height direction.
[0049] The height of the main body is not particularly limited as
long as the main body can support the inner wall-side contact
member or the outer wall-side contact member so that the inner
wall-side contact member or the outer wall-side contact member in
the groove-like coolant passage is fixed at a specific position. In
the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the main body has a uniform
height in the longitudinal direction. Note that the main body may
have a non-uniform height in the longitudinal direction.
[0050] A material for producing the main body is not particularly
limited as long as the material exhibits excellent long-life
coolant resistance (hereinafter referred to as "LLC resistance"),
and exhibits a heat resistance sufficient to endure the temperature
within the groove-like coolant passage. Examples of the material
for producing the main body include a thermoplastic resin (e.g.,
polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene,
acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene resin, polyvinyl chloride,
acrylonitrile, styrene resin, methacrylic resin, vinyl chloride,
polyamide, polyacetal, polycarbonate, modified polyphenylene ether,
polybutylene terephthalate, GF-reinforced polyethylene
terephthalate, ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene,
polyphenylene sulfide, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyarylate,
polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyether ether ketone, and liquid
crystal polymer), a thermosetting resin such as a polyester (e.g.,
polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate,
polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and
liquid crystal polyester), a polyolefin (e.g., polyethylene,
polypropylene, and polybutylene) polyoxymethylene, a polyamide,
polyphenylene sulfide, polyketone, polyetherketone, polyether ether
ketone, polyetherketoneketone, polyether nitrile, a fluorine-based
resin (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene), a crystalline resin (e.g.,
liquid crystal polymer), a styrene-based resin, an amorphous resin
(e.g., polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyvinyl
chloride, polyphenylene ether, polyimide, polyamide-imide,
polyetherimide polysulfone, polyether sulphone, and polyarylate), a
phenol-based resin, a phenoxy resin, a thermoplastic elastomer
(e.g., polystyrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyolefin-based
thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane-based thermoplastic
elastomer, polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyamide-based
thermoplastic elastomer, polybutadiene-based thermoplastic
elastomer, polyisoprene-based thermoplastic elastomer,
fluorine-based thermoplastic elastomer, and acrylonitrile-based
thermoplastic elastomer), and a copolymer and a modified product
thereof, a metal material (e.g., cast iron, stainless steel,
aluminum, and aluminum alloy), and the like.
[0051] When the inner wall-side contact member is disposed in the
groove-like coolant passage, the inner wall-side contact member
comes in contact with the cylinder bore-side wall surface of the
groove-like coolant passage, and is disposed along the longitudinal
direction (transverse direction) of the inner wall of the main body
over the entirety of the inner wall of the main body, or partially
disposed along the longitudinal direction of the inner wall of the
main body. The outer wall-side contact member is disposed along the
longitudinal direction (transverse direction) of the outer wall of
the main body over the entirety of the outer wall of the main body,
or partially disposed along the longitudinal direction of the outer
wall of the main body. When the water jacket spacer has been
disposed in the groove-like coolant passage, the inner wall-side
contact member has come in contact with the cylinder bore-side wall
surface of the groove-like coolant passage, and the outer wall-side
contact member has come in to contact with the outer wall surface
of the groove-like coolant passage, the groove-like coolant passage
is divided into the upper passage and the lower passage.
[0052] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, both the inner
wall-side contact member and the outer wall-side contact member are
continuously provided along the longitudinal direction of the main
body. Note that the configuration is not limited thereto. For
example, the inner wall-side contact member or the outer wall-side
contact member may be broken as long as it is possible to
substantially separately adjust the flow rate of the coolant that
flows through the upper passage of the groove-like coolant passage,
and the flow rate of the coolant that flows through the lower
passage of the groove-like coolant passage.
[0053] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the inner wall-side
contact member or the outer wall-side contact member is disposed on
the inner wall side or the outer wall side of the main body in a
state in which the inner wall-side contact member or the outer
wall-side contact member is fitted into the receiving section
formed on the inner wall side or the outer wall side of the main
body. Note that the configuration is not limited thereto. An
arbitrary method may be used as long as the inner wall-side contact
member or the outer wall-side contact member be provided to the
main body.
[0054] The thickness (i.e., the length indicated by reference
numeral 25 in FIG. 6) of the inner wall-side contact member or the
outer wall-side contact member is not particularly limited, but is
preferably 0.1 to 5.0 mm, and particularly preferably 0.5 to 3.0
mm. The length (i.e., the length indicated by reference numeral 26
in FIG. 6) from the contact part of the inner wall-side contact
member to the contact part of the outer wall-side contact member is
appropriately selected corresponding to the groove-like coolant
passage.
[0055] A material firm producing the inner wall-side contact member
or the outer wall-side contact member is not particularly limited
as long as the inner wall-side contact member or the outer
wall-side contact member can come in contact with the cylinder
bore-side wall surface or the outer wall surface of the groove-like
coolant passage to substantially divide the groove-like coolant
passage into the upper passage and the lower passage, and the
material exhibits excellent LLC resistance, and exhibits a heat
resistance sufficient to endure the temperature of the cylinder
bore-side wall surface within the groove-like coolant passage. It
is preferable that the inner wall-side contact member and the outer
wall-side contact member be formed of a rubber material having a
rubber hardness of 5 to 50, and particularly preferably 10 to 30.
Examples of the material for producing the inner wall-side contact
member or the outer wall-side contact member include a silicone
rubber, a fluororubber, a natural rubber, a butadiene rubber, an
ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), a nitrile-butadiene rubber
(NBR), and the like. It is preferable to use a heat-expandable
rubber such as a silicone rubber, a fluororubber, a natural rubber,
a butadiene rubber, an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), or a
nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). The term "heat-expandable rubber"
used herein refers to a composite obtained by impregnating a base
foam material with a thermoplastic substance having a melting point
lower than that of the base foam material, and compressing the
resulting product. The heat-expandable rubber is characterized in
that the compressed state is maintained at room temperature by the
cured product of the thermoplastic substance that is present at
least in the surface area, and the cured product of the
thermoplastic substance softens due to heating so that the
compressed state is canceled. When the inner wall-side contact
member or the outer wall-side contact member is formed of the
heat-expandable rubber, the heat-expandable rubber expands (is
deformed) to have a specific shape when the water jacket spacer
according to one embodiment of the invention has been disposed in
the groove-like coolant passage, and heat has been applied to the
heat-expandable rubber. Examples of the base foam material used to
produce the heat-expandable rubber include a silicone rubber, a
fluororubber, a natural rubber, a butadiene rubber, an
ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), and a nitrile-butadiene
rubber (NBR). It is preferable to use a thermoplastic substance
having a glass transition temperature, a melting point, or a
softening temperature of less than 120.degree. C. as the
thermoplastic substance used to produce the heat-expandable rubber.
Examples of the thermoplastic substance used to produce the
heat-expandable rubber include a thermoplastic resin such as
polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride,
polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, a polyacrylate, a
styrene-butadiene copolymer, chlorinated polyethylene,
polyvinylidene fluoride, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, an
ethylene-vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-acrylate copolymer, an
ethylene-vinyl acetate-acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-vinyl
acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, nylon, an acrylonitrile-butadiene
copolymer, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride, polychloroprene,
polybutadiene, a thermoplastic polyimide, a polyacetal,
polyphenylene sulfide, a polycarbonate, and a thermoplastic
polyurethane, and a thermoplastic compound such as a
low-melting-point glass frit, starch, a solder, and a wax.
[0056] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the position of the
inner wall-side contact member or the outer wall-side contact
member in the height direction of the main body is constant along
the longitudinal direction of the main body. Note that the
configuration is not limited thereto. For example, an outer
wall-side contact member 34a may be provided to the outer wall
surface of a main body 32a so that the position of the outer
wall-side contact member 34a in the height direction changes along
the longitudinal direction of the main body (see FIG. 12).
Alternatively, an inner wall-side contact member 36b may be
provided to the outer wall surface of a main body 32b so that part
of the inner wall-side contact member 36b along the longitudinal
direction of to the main body differs from the remaining part as to
the position in the height direction (see FIG. 13).
[0057] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the position of the
inner wall-side contact member and the position of the outer
wall-side contact member in the height direction are identical to
each other along the longitudinal direction of the main body. Note
that the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, an
inner wall-side contact member 36c and an outer wall-side contact
member 34c may be provided to a main body 32c so that the position
of the inner wall-side contact member 36c in the height direction
is higher than the position of the outer wall-side contact member
34c in the height direction (see (A) in FIG. 14). Alternatively, an
inner wall-side contact member 36d and an outer wall-side contact
member 34d may be provided to a main body 32d so that the position
of the inner wall-side contact member 36d in the height direction
is lower than the position of the outer wall-side contact member
34d in the height direction (see (B) in FIG. 14).
[0058] When the water jacket spacer according to one aspect of the
invention has been disposed in the groove-like coolant passage, the
inner wall-side contact member has come in contact with the
cylinder bore-side wall surface of the groove-like coolant passage,
and the outer wall-side contact member has come in contact with the
outer wall surface of the groove-like coolant passage, the
groove-like coolant passage that is situated on the inner side with
respect to the water jacket spacer, or the groove-like coolant
passage that is situated on the outer side with respect to the
water jacket spacer, is divided into the upper passage and the
lower passage. Therefore, it is possible to separately adjust the
flow rate of the coolant that flows through the upper passage of
the groove-like coolant passage, and the flow rate of the coolant
that flows through the lower passage of the groove-like coolant
passage, so that the desired flow rate is achieved. This makes it
possible to separately adjust the flow rate of the coolant that
flows through the upper passage of the groove-like coolant passage,
and the flow rate of the coolant that flows through the lower
passage of the groove-like coolant passage, corresponding to the
difference in temperature between the upper part and the lower part
of the cylinder bore wall, or a change in wall temperature, so that
the upper part and the lower part of the cylinder bore wall have a
uniform temperature. Therefore, the water jacket spacer according
to one aspect of the invention ensures that the cylinder bore wall
has a uniform temperature.
[0059] An internal combustion engine according to another aspect of
the invention includes the water jacket spacer according to one
aspect of the invention that is disposed in a groove-like coolant
passage provided to a cylinder block. An automobile according to a
further aspect of the invention includes the internal combustion
engine according to one aspect of the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0060] According to the embodiments of the invention, since the
difference in the amount of deformation between the upper part and
the lower part of the cylinder bore wall of an internal combustion
engine can be reduced (i.e., friction with respect to a piston can
be reduced), it is possible to provide a fuel-efficient internal
combustion engine.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0061] 1: Water jacket spacer [0062] 2, 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d: Main
body [0063] 3: Outer wall-side contact member-receiving section
[0064] 4, 34a, 34c, 34d: Outer wall-side contact member [0065] 5:
Inner wall-side contact member-receiving section [0066] 36b 36c,
36d: Inner wall-side contact member [0067] 7: Inflow hole [0068]
11: Cylinder block [0069] 12: Bore [0070] 13: Cylinder bore wall
[0071] 14: Groove-like coolant passage [0072] 15a, 15b: Coolant
inlet [0073] 16a, 16b: Coolant outlet [0074] 17: Cylinder bore-side
wall surface of groove-like coolant passage [0075] 18: Outer wall
surface of groove-like coolant passage [0076] 23: Upper passage of
groove-like coolant passage [0077] 24: Lower passage of groove-like
coolant passage
* * * * *